Regulating device for steam-heating systems.



PATENTED APBHV, 1908.

No.88 l,287.

J. P. MOBLROY.

VICE FOR STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31 1901.

EBGULATING DB unrrnn srerss new oFFIoE.

JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CONSOLIDATED OAR-HEATING COMPANY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINlA.

BEGULATING DEVICE FOR STEAM-HEATING SYSTEMS.

No. ss ezsv.

Snecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1901;

Patented April 7, 190s,

Serial No. 73,931.

To all whom it may concern:

Be knovtn that l, J; {ES F. McELnoY, a. citizen of the United States oi .zinicrica, and a resident of the city of'filbany, county. of Albany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reguleting Devices for'Steem-Hecting Systr o1" "aich the following is a specifics tionv My invention relates to steam heating system, especially'adapted for use in railway our service, and the object of my invention is to provide a means for controlling the supply of steam in the radiator pipes and to regulate the tem erature of the apartment in which the radiator pipes are placed. 1 cccomplish this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a. perspective "view of a steam regulator and connections constructed and arranged eccording to my invention. Fig; 2' a plan view of the regulator. 3 is a sectional view along the line :1:----9: in Fig. 2.

l ig. 4 is an elevation of the regulator, partly in section, as though looking at Fig. 2 from below Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

'The train pi e D is connected by the pipe E to the uprig t pipe F, and st thenoint of arranges Wall L in such a manner that the connection between the pipes E and I 1 errs-nge a, fitting G adapted to make hot metallic contact between the ipe F, the blowoii pipe 5 and drip pipe H,'t .ie fitting G being heated by steam from the pipe E and thus preventing freezing in the drip and blow-off pi es respectively. in the pipe F, I preferab y arran e a valve operated by a valve handle %he fitting or casting K, preferably curved, connects the pipe F'with the pipe M tlnough which steam passes to the radiator pipes N. W ithin the fitting K, I

steam fromthe pipe F will .pass through the chamber 1 and through the port 7, and Wall L into the chamber Z and from thence into the pipe M connected with the radiator pi es N. .lhe ort Z may be closed by the va ve operated y the valve-stein P which is connected with the diaphre n or sealed liquidvapor cell Q in the thgmostat casing R. The valve 0 is e-rrang-JQ- to reciprocate freely, having. a. loose fit lsbling the water to escape from the chamber Z and is guided by off chamber V.

the nrtition SS and adapted to be seated firm y against the surrounding port Z in the Wall L. The action of the thermdstatic trap will tend to open and close the port 1.

After the steam has passed through the radiator pipes thesteam and, Water ofcondensationwill pass through the pipe Tto'the blow-off chamber V in the fitting or casting K, within which chamber is placed a concavoconvex screen W through which the steam and Water of condensation must passbefore' reaching the (.lischarge chamber Z, communicating with the thermostat ccsin .R, by means of the (hi pipe H. The discharge port X is contro led by the valve X also opened and closed by the action of-the thermostatic element Q.

Within the chamber V, I place a valve Y,

finding its seat at the end of the blow-o1f pipe J. By this arrangement the water of condensction, after the same has passed through the radiator pipes, will be conveyed to the chamber V in the fitting or csstiri K and the dirt and sediment deposited within the blow- The water passing into the discharge Z and through the drip pipe H will be transmitted to the thermostat casin R and the action of the thermostairwill ten to either open or close the port Z and the ort X depending upon the temperature-of t e dis charge.

It will be seen that the steam will be pro vented from entering the radiator pi ,es because of the closing of the valve 0, W en the discharge therefrom is sufficiently warm to cause the thermostat to act and thus the temperature oi the car maybe re ulsted,

since the radiator pipes being then ot will continue to give oil heat until the discharge therefrom is cooled, When additional steam Will be admitted because of the opening of the'port Z.

By having both the supply and discharge chambers of the radiator in the same casing or fitting K of my regulating device I' secure manyimportant advantages. Thus the device is much cheaper to make and more easily applied to 'a, car or other situation thanprior thermostatic regulators, besides taking less room, and I am enabled to employ the povirer ful yet delicate form of thermostat shown in the. drawings and consisting of the expansible cell or diaphragm and its connections, situated within the heating s stem or circuit at or near the point where the atter discharges 110 15 the valve or valves accurately and with the minimum of effect from expansion and contraction or other movement of the casing and pipes. This construction also minimizes the number of packed Working jointsand can, as shown, he made to dispenseentirely with a stuffin box for the valve-spindle. Where I contro the discharge in addition to the supply of the radiator by means of the thermostat,

1 as here shown, it is preferred to have one of the valves close slightly before the other. In the illustration given, the'discharge valve X which is a piston-valve, closes just before the supply-valve O, whi-ch enables me' to retain a sli t pressure of steam in the radiator. n my drawing;- Ihave' shown the'inlet to a radiator or heater as controlled by a thermo,--

stat which is located outside of the car or other apartment and exposed to the temperature of theoutside air, the thermostatic ele ment Q being shown at or below the level of thetrain-pipe D, which is located below the car in the usual manner. Hence the heating activity of the radiator is subject toauto- .m'a'tic control both by the condition of its contents and the temperature of the outside air; This feature broadly is not claimed herein, being made the subject of an application of William R. Cosper, Serial 0. 53,768. Lastly ,it willhe' seen that my present im- 5 provement's' enable the inlet va ve,- if only one be emplo 'ed, or both valves if both be employed as s iown, tobe withdrawn from the dischargeend of the drip ipe underneath the car,"upon opening the ower half of the casmg .of trap R which is secured to the upper "halfim grmanner Well known in car traps. The ,valve 0 is of such diameter as toibe withglrawn through partition S S and port- X as will be readily understood from the drawing.

'The two valves 0 and X are closed conilin'rently, that is both closed bythe ex and- ,liig movement of the thermostat as istin- 'g'uisl'led from an opposite closing, althou h pre'fetably, as hereinafter pointed out, t e

concurrent closing and opening is not a simultaneous closing and opening but one valve closes slightly before t e other.

It will be understood that t he loose fit of "1 the lower boqly of valve 0 in partition SS is merelysuch as to enable thesmall amount of condensation from chamber 1 to squeeze ,through into chamber Z without allowing any substantial amount of steam-to escape by this avenue into the discharge-chamber.

In fact the water. or moisture forms a packing for the steam at the low steam pressure employed. This loose fitfWllilt-z not perhaps essential, I regard as a useful improvement which does away with the use of a stuffing '35 box. In theldrawirigs the free opening in 1,

steam supply for the heater, an inlet valve in said casing controlling the connection between said source and the supply chamber, a discharge passage from the heater, a thermostat located in. said passage so as to .be affected b the temperature of the discharge from the ieater and rigidly connected with the casing, and an operating connection between said thermostat and inlet valve.

2. The combination with a heating system including a heater for the apartment, of a regulator comprising a casing formed with a supply chamber for said heater, a source of in'said casing controllin the connection between said-source and t e supply chamber,-

a discharge passage from" the heater including a terminal thermostat casing open 'on one side to the atmosphere outside of the apartment to be heated and rigidly connected with the inlet-valve casing, a ther-- mostat supported in said thermostat chamber, and an operating connection between said thermostat and inlet valve.

3. In-a regulator for steam heaters, the combination with the heater and source of steam supply, of a casing having a suppl chamber connected with the inlet end of t. e heater and a discharge-chamber connected with the outlet end thereof, a discharge-conduit leadin from the disehargechainber'to the atmosp ere, a thermostat mounted in said discharge-conduit, and two valves in said casing operated by said thermostat and having concurrent closing movements, one

being) an inlet valve controlling the connection etween the steam supply and said supply-chamber and the other being an outlet conduit.

'valve controlling the connection between" said'discharge-chamber and the discharge-- 4. A thermostatic reguiator for steam heating systems comprising a casing having supply and dischar e chambers se arated by a partition, a disc argeconduit eading from said casing, a thermostat located in said conduit, a valve-stem having a sliding fit in said partition, and two valves mounted upon said stem and both closed by expansion of the thermostat, one being a valve controlling the inlet to said su)ply-chamber and the othera valve controliing the outlet from said discharge-chamber to the discharge-conduit.

5. In a steam heating system, the combination with the heater and sour( of steam supply, of a regulator having a casing at one provided with supply and disckhar e pnd,

'ers connected respectively wi t t e chain 85 steam supply for'the heater, an inlet valve jthe thermostatic end of the regulator.

6. A regulator for steam heating systems having a valve-casing at one end formed with inlet and discharge chambers having ports for the supply of steam to a heater and the discharge of steam and Water of condensation therefrom, a valve stem, inlet and outlet valves controlling said ports and mounted on said stem, a. thermostat casing at the other end of the regulator, an intermediate discharge pipe, a thermostat mounted in the thermostat casing, and a connection between saidthermostat and the valves, all arranged so that the thermostat, the valves and the said connection may be withdrawn throughthe thermostat end of the regulator.

7. The combination with a steam heater, of a regulator therefor including a casing containing two valves, one of which .closes before the other, controlling respectively .the inlet to and discharge from said heater, and a thermostat for operatin said valves located in a discharge pipe rigid y connected to said casing and on the discharge side of the inlet valve and subject to the temperature of the discharge passing said valve and to the temperature of the outer air.

8. The combination with a steam heater, of a regulator therefor including a casing containing two valves controlling respectively the inlet and discharge of the heater and so arranged that the discharge valve closes before the inlet valve, and a thermostat in a discharge passage rigidly connected to said casing and operating said valves and subject to the temperature of the steam and water of condensation which have passed said discharge valve and to the temperature of the outer air.

9. A regulator for steam heating systems comprising a casing having supply and discharge chambers separated by a partition, a discharge conduit leading from the discharge chamber to the atmosphere, a thermostat subject to the temperature of the discharge, and a valve operated by the thermostat and controlling the entrance of the steam from a source of supply to said supply chamber, said valve provided with a stem having a loose working lit n said partition permitting passage of water from t 1c supply chamber to the discharge chamber.

its connection are made withdrawable through 10. In a steam heating system, the combination with a heater for the interior of a car or other apartment and a source of steam sup ply for said heater, of a regulator for the eater having a casing provided with supply and discharge chambers connected with the inlet and outlet ends of the heater respectively, a discharge conduit leading from said discharge chamber to the atmosphere and rigidly connected to said casing, a valve controlling the supply of steam to said supply chamber, and an expansible thermostatic cell located in the discharge conduit outside of the car or apartment and subject both to the temperature of the discharge from the heater and to the temperature of the outside air, for operating said valve.

1 1. In aheating system for railway cars, the combination with a source of steam supply and ameans for heating the interior of the car, of a regulator mounted in an upright position and inciuding at its upper end acasing having supply and discharge chambers connected respectively with the source of steam supply and with the heating means, inlet and outlet valves within said casing, a thermostat cas ing at the lower end of the regulator having a movable lower portion of open-work construction, a discharge pipe connecting said casings, and a thermostat mounted in the thermostat casing and having an operating connection with the valves, said thermostat,

operating connection, and valves being withdrawable through the lower end of the thermostat casing.

12. In a regulator for car-heating systems, a valve-casing formed with su ply and discharge chambers and with a b ow-ofi chamber communicating with the discharge chamber, a blow-off valve controlling an outlet from said blow-off chamber, inlet and outlet valves controlling respectively the inlet to the supply chamber and the outlet from the discharge chamber, a discharge conduit on the drip side of said outlet valve and'rigidly connected to said casing, and a thermostat in said conduit controlling the two valves. 7

13. The combination with a car-mediator and steam-supply pipe, of a regulator provided with an upright casing whose lower 115 part is in heat-conductive metallic connection with the steam-supply pipe, a valve-casing included in the regulator casing and formed with supply and discharge chambers for the radiator, an inlet valve in said valve casing controlling the radiator supply, and a thermostat in the u right regulator casing in the path of the rat iator discharge for operating said valve.

Signed at Albany, N. Y. this 29 day of Aug. 

